Karen Leigh Harper
Clinton Township,MI
Summary
Professional with experience supporting departmental operations. Demonstrates strong organizational, communication, and multitasking abilities. Adept at fostering team collaboration and adapting to shifting priorities. Skilled in administrative tasks, scheduling, and data management. Dependable and results-focused, ensuring smooth workflow and consistent outcomes.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Emergency Department Assistant Clinical Manager
Henry Ford Oakland
Madison Heights, MI
12.2023 - Current
- Balancing Schedules for 60 employees
- Creating Daily Sheets
- Creating Huddle News, and weekly Wins
- Facilitating Daily Huddles
- Facilitating throughput
- Completing Loop closures and educating staff
- Completing monthly audit reviews
- Address and resolve patient and family concerns promptly and professionally, ensuring satisfaction while maintaining hospital policies and procedures.
- Resolve conflicts among staff and patients, utilizing active listening and conflict resolution strategies to maintain positive relationships and ensure high-quality care delivery.
- Handle patient and family grievances by investigating concerns, providing feedback, and implementing corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
- Create Standard Operating Procedures
Critical Care Nurse
Ascension St. Vincent
Indianapolis, IN
01.2023 - 11.2023
- Providing advanced care for critically ill patients in ICU settings, including those with ARDS, COVID-19, sepsis, and DKA.
- Manage and oversee complex procedures such as titrating vasoactive drips, ventilator management, and arterial line insertion, ensuring patient stability in high-acuity situations.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including physicians, respiratory therapists, and social workers, to develop and implement individualized patient care plans.
- Supervise junior nursing staff, providing mentorship, training, and performance evaluations to enhance team performance and adherence to clinical protocols.
Utilization Review Nurse
Blue Cross Blue Shield of MI
Detroit, MI
01.2021 - 01.2023
- Reduced healthcare costs through efficient utilization of resources and identification of unnecessary treatments or procedures.
- Ensured compliance with regulations and accreditation standards by maintaining accurate documentation of all utilization review activities.
- Maintained professional competence by staying current on industry trends, best practices, and regulatory requirements specific to utilization review nursing.
- Evaluated medical guidelines and benefit coverage to determine appropriateness of services.
- Performed prior authorization review of services requiring notification.
- Improved patient care quality by conducting thorough utilization reviews and making recommendations for optimal treatment plans.
- Minimized financial risk associated with denials or payment discrepancies through diligent validation of medical necessity prior to service provision.
Emergency Room Flex Nurse
Ascension Health System
Various Locations near Detroit, MI
01.2020 - 01.2021
- Delivered exceptional patient care in high-stress emergency settings, working across multiple ER departments with varying staff, protocols, and patient populations.
- Coordinated patient triage, assessment, and treatment in collaboration with emergency department physicians, managing high volumes of trauma, stroke, overdose, and cardiac patients.
- Supervised and provided guidance to support nursing staff during busy shifts, maintaining effective communication and prioritizing tasks to optimize patient care.
- Played a key role in maintaining department standards, ensuring compliance with BLS, ACLS, and other emergency response protocols.
Emergency Room Nurse
Ascension St. John
Detroit, MI
01.2017 - 01.2021
- Provided direct care in a high-volume Level 1 trauma center, treating a variety of urgent and life-threatening conditions, including traumas, cardiac events, and strokes.
- Managed a team of nursing assistants and junior staff to streamline patient care processes, reducing wait times and improving patient outcomes.
- Participated in department-wide initiatives to enhance clinical protocols, resulting in improvements in patient satisfaction scores and departmental efficiency.
- Conducted regular assessments and delivered patient education on discharge plans, promoting recovery and patient self-management.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
University of Detroit Mercy
Detroit, MI01.2017
Skills
- Team Leadership
- Staff Management
- Clinical Decision-Making
- Critical Care
- Patient Advocacy
- Family Support
- Process Improvement
- Operational Efficiency
- Conflict Resolution
- Staff Development
- Budgeting
- Resource Allocation
- OSHA Compliance
- HIPAA Compliance
- Patient Care Documentation
- Charting
- Quality Assurance
- Risk Management
- Education
Certifications And Licensure
- Basic Life Support (BLS), American Heart Association
- Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), American Heart Association
- Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC), 2028-07-31
- Arrow EZ-IO Certified, Not Provided
- Neonatal resuscitation (NRP), 2025-06-06
Certification
BLS
ACLS
TNCC
EZ IO Certified
Stroke Certified
Neonatal Resuscitation Program (expected 06/2025)
Timeline
Emergency Department Assistant Clinical Manager
Henry Ford Oakland
12.2023 - Current
Critical Care Nurse
Ascension St. Vincent
01.2023 - 11.2023
Utilization Review Nurse
Blue Cross Blue Shield of MI
01.2021 - 01.2023
Emergency Room Flex Nurse
Ascension Health System
01.2020 - 01.2021
Emergency Room Nurse
Ascension St. John
01.2017 - 01.2021
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
University of Detroit Mercy